What is a conflict free diamond

By Catalogs Editorial Staff

Do you know what makes a diamond a conflict free diamond?

Diamonds are beautiful, one of a kind. For many, a diamond is a symbol of purity, an emblem of love.

So what does it mean when a diamond is certified as a conflict free diamond? After all, all diamonds come from mines. In the eyes of most shoppers, a diamond is a diamond.

But behind the scenes, the story may be quite different. That sparkling diamond in an engagement ring or eternity band may have been mined, sold or cut under a cloud of violence, human rights violations, child labor or environmental destruction. These so-called ?blood diamonds? carry with them a trail of pain and destruction.

According to Dreams of Africa, a group dedicated to addressing the impact of blood diamonds, an estimated 1.3 million children have been orphaned and/or left homeless because of blood diamond practices.

The UN and U.S. Government Respond

In 2000, the Kimberly Process was adopted by the United Nations as a means for addressing these abuses by labeling as ?blood diamonds? all stones that ?originate from areas controlled by forces or factions opposed to legitimate and internationally recognized governments, and are used to fund military action in opposition to those governments, or in contravention of the decisions of the UN Security Council”.

In 2003, the U.S. also voiced its opposition to blood diamond practices with the passage of the ??Clean Diamond Trade Act?? which addressed the import of conflict-supporting diamonds from Sierra Leone and other locations known for diamond-based abuses.

Despite these measures, the devastating practices were so pervasive that many people called for a complete boycott of diamonds. But the diamond as a symbol of love and commitment was still preferred by most brides. The impasse seemed to have no acceptable solution.

Fortunately, there is an alternative. Enter, the conflict free diamond.

What is a conflict free diamond?

A conflict free diamond is one which is tracked from its mining through cutting, polishing and sale to guarantee that it is free from the taint of violence, child labor, illegal sale, human rights abuses or environmentally-destructive practices.

The certification process for a conflict free diamond goes well beyond the issues addressed in either the Kimberly Process or the Clean Diamond Act. Each and every stone is tracked from its place of origin, through its processing and to its point to sale to ensure that there are no human rights violations at any stage. ~

Further more, these conflict free diamonds are followed to document that profits are not diverted to fund conflicts, wars, or other acts of violence. Mining methods are also monitored to guarantee that they are in accordance with environmentally sound practices.

The result is a diamond that offers the shopper all the beauty they have come to associate with these brilliant gems, but without the pain and destruction uncontrolled human greed created in traditional diamond operations.

Where are conflict free diamonds mined?

Most certified conflict-free diamonds are mined in Canada. But in recent years, a handful of certified conflict free diamond operations have begun operations in Africa and other parts of the world.

How do you know if your diamond is a conflict free stone?

Look for a certification before you buy. Reliable auditing bodies such as tthe Canadian Diamond Code of Conduct, Canadamark, or the Government of the Northwest Territories offer trustworthy conflict free diamond certifications.